“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” (2Timothy 4:8)
Paul begins this verse with the word “Henceforth.” Besides this he says referring to the previous things he has said. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2Timothy 4:7). He had just given Timothy instructions to preach the Word and ends with his acknowledgement that his time here on earth is coming to an end. In his point of view, he’d been faithful to God and to His purposes for his life. Now besides this, he was ready to receive his reward.
We are to receive rewards. They are the five crowns mentioned throughout the Bible. They are the crown of glory, the crown of life, the crown of rejoicing, the incorruptible crown and the crown of righteousness mentioned in the above verse. Peter mentions the crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4. It’s also mentioned in Proverbs. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.” (Proverbs 4:7-9) John mentions the crown of life which is in the book of Revelation when Jesus speaks to the church in Smyrna. (Revelation 2:10) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” (James 1:12) Paul mentions the crown of rejoicing. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” (1Thessalonians 2:19-20) And Paul mentions another crown, the incorruptible crown. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1Corinthians 9:24-25)
There are two important points to be made about all the crowns. One, they are rewards for faithfulness and not for works. And two, they are given back to the Lord because He is the One worthy of the crowns.
Faithfulness is only ascribed to the Lord. He is Faithful and True. (Revelation 19:11) There are few times it’s recognized as an attribute of man. Paul calls the saints at Ephesus faithful in his greeting to them. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 1:1) The word Paul used means fidelity. There is no other time that faithfulness is recognized in man. And yet it’s required in order to receive the crowns. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1Corintians 4:2) And here is our key. We are the stewards, managers and overseers of God’s things here on earth. Jesus tells the parable of the Ten Talents. What does He say at the end of that parable? The lord of the servants says to the servants who received five talents and the servant who received two talents and gained double what they had received for their lord the same word for their faithfulness. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21, 23) They didn’t receive their reward for the work they did, but for their faithfulness. The parable is not about works. Their work is not mentioned, only that whatever work they did, whether they invested it or traded it in exchange for labor, they were faithful in what they had received, five or two talents according to their ability. Here is another clue to understanding. The magnitude of their work wasn’t mentioned. But their gain was. Whether it was great or small, represented by the five and two talents, they were both faithful and received a reward for their faithfulness.
Isn’t it a relief that we don’t have to strive to “be” and to reach a recognized level of holiness before man. We just have to be faithful with what God gives us, whether it’s much or little. Let’s think about God’s blessings not material, but spiritual. Have we been faithful to multiply it? ...to gain more for the Lord? The spectrum of who we are is varied and extensive. The opportunities and means of multiplying what God has given us are vast. We are responsible for who we are in the Lord and what we do with what He has given us. Have you gained in wisdom? Have you endured the temptation to give up on what God has said? Are you rejoicing in those who have come to the Lord because of your intercession or your testimony? Are you anxiously waiting for His return? Are you running the race God has set for you? Like Paul we can say there is a crown laid up for me.
There is a Scripture that puts every thing in perspective. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” (Galatians 5:22) The word faith in this Scripture is the same word used for faithfulness and loosely fidelity, the Greek word “pistis.” Yes! We see now why we toss our crowns before Him. We receive our faithfulness for the Lord through the Holy Spirit. It’s part of the fruit that comes from listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) It’s all about Him. And it’s all Him. He is the One worthy to receive our crowns. We bow before Him and toss our crowns to the One to Whom they belong.
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